Cong confident of clean sweep in LS, 4 bypolls

Expressing confidence of making a clean sweep in the elections to both Lok Sabha seats and by-polls to four Assembly segments – Mandrem, Shiroda, Mapusa and Panaji, the Congress party on Thursday claimed that it will form the next government in Goa after the results on May 23, 2019.

“We had elections for five seats including two parliamentary seats and Panaji by-polls are yet to be held, but the score is clear, it will be 6-0. BJP will not get a single seat and we assure to Goans that after the result on May 23 we will form the next government…people’s government,” said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar while addressing a press conference in Panaji.

He said that the BJP is trying to create a false impression amongst the Panaji voters that they are winning in all five seats so as to influence the voters for the May 19 bypoll.

Responding to the criticism on social media and by the BJP that the grand old party has given party ticket to Atanasio Babush Monserrate who has rape charges against him, Chodankar said, “If the individuals go to BJP they get purified and the moment they are disassociated with BJP, the allegations are raked up.”

Chodankar alleged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held meeting in a hotel at Mapusa with certain select individuals and claimed that money was distributed on the eve of the polling day to the people in the area.

The Congress president said, “The agenda of the AAP is always decided by BJP as it is part of the saffron party.” Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar claimed that there was ‘tremendous anger’ against the BJP-led government in the state and at the Centre and that has been translated into the votes.

“BJP has been questioning and criticising us on dynasty politics, today they ought to answer as to what has compelled them to follow in the footsteps of the Congress party,” he said.